Abstract:
The term 'technology' refers to the actual application of scientific knowledge, as well as the apparatus and instruments that follow. We are currently living in a period of fast transition, in which technological advancements are transforming the way we live while also propelling us farther into the abyss of disaster, as seen by climate change and resource scarcity.
Over the last several decades, the Information Technology sector, as well as customers of the industry's products and services, have profited from fast growing computing performance for all types of devices. Digitalization is projected to have far-reaching ('transformative') implications for the economy, society, and politics, as well as for the planet as a whole. This encompasses hardware (ICT equipment, data centers, data transmission networks) as well as software, digital technologies, and applications — ranging from robotics to the Internet of Things (IoT), to distributed ledger technologies like blockchain, to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Questions regarding the role of technology become even more relevant in the context of the effort to catalyze a Great Transition to a sustainable global society, in which fundamental changes in culture, values, consumer patterns, governance, business, and institutions are expected. This research paper contributes to the dissemination of recent emerging technological trends that may contribute to ecosystem and biodiversity sustainability
